Category: News

The Invictus Games in Sydney was mind blowing” says para-athlete Steve Fell. “Toronto was my first Invictus Games so it was special, but there were even more teams competing this time, including athletes from non-English speaking countries, like Jordan, Georgia, Estonia, as well as Canada, the USA and Great Britain. Pictured – Steve wears a Canadian Invictus Games shirt, in the spirit of celebration and comradeship, shirts were swapped, and friendships forged.

Steve and his team-mate won their first round of wheelchair tennis, and were subsequently beaten by the USA as Steve’s companion became unwell, going down with pneumonia. Steve then swam the freestyle leg in the 50 metre relay final. The swim teams are made up of two wheelchair athletes and two able bodied swimmers. Steve is proud to have been the last athlete to exit the pool on the last day ! He helped win the first wheelchair basketball game against Canada, and played for a bronze medal against the English team, but they were too good on the day.

“I’m really happy with how I played, and how we all interacted and encouraged each other. Four athletes from each nation were chosen to meet Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and I was one of them ! The highlight for me was watching all of the Australians compete, as a wheelchair basketball nation we have improved so much. The Homebush stadium in Sydney is great for wheelchair athletes and I was really pleased to try out the new OGO Segway-like wheelchair. It’s a NZ invention, and for half a day I got to fly around in it ! I’d love to have one of them one day !

“I was tired, and my pelvis and back hurt, but the only real injury was to my pride ! I was so involved watching the athletes at one point, my wheelchair toppled over, and 6 top policemen picked me up ! “, he laughs, “ but some good sleep, and now I’m back into it. ”

You can see Steve in his custom built Snap On Truck most days in the Archerfield area. Torquepower is proud to help Steve with Cummins parts and to be a part of his fan club ! Torquepower, celebrating 40 years – 170 Beatty Road, Archerfield 0732778277

With diesel estimated to comprise 99 per cent of trucking and half of the commercial vehicle industry in Australia, according to the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (AAEP), the recent price trend at the pump has been an unwelcome sight for most operators.

And, with alternative fuels involving one or more economic or operational compromises, including “lower energy density, higher price, reduced driving range (or payload penalty), lower thermal efficiency, or limited availability (of trucks, fuel, or refuelling facilities)”, there may be no short-term magic bullet other than weathering the storm and eking out efficiencies within the supply chain.

That’s according to the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad), which sees no respite in sight due to domestic and international influences.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) cites a weaker Australian dollar (down from around 80 US cents in January to around 70 at present) and supply-side constraints, including the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cutting production by 1.2 million barrels a day since 2016, as placing upwards pressure on prices, which have risen by 15 per cent in that time.

That is combined with an upcoming initial public offering (IPO) of Aramco, the Saudi Arabian state-owned oil company, which is “reportedly targeting crude oil prices near $80 a barrel in preparation for the IPO”, NatRoad quotes Commonwealth Bank mining and energy commodities analyst Vivek Dhar. By comparison, a barrel was as low as US$35 in February 2016, the lowest it had been this century since the early 2000s.

TIPS FOR TRANSPORT

NatRoad has provided an information sheet with cost-saving and efficiency-maximising suggestions for operators to consider. They include:

Automation and technology: Regulating, automating and optimising manual processes can reduce staff requirements, centralise production operations to provide scale and control costs. Real-time software can help businesses better understand where trucks are going, the routes they are taking, and where opportunities for improvement lie.

Reducing idling time: Reducing the idling time of vehicles saves fuel while also reducing engine wear and associated maintenance costs, which will also help save costs. On average, service fleets idle somewhere between three to four hours a day. By simply reducing idle time, fleets can begin to see measurable cost savings

Rightsizing: Identifying the right vehicle to the right driver is another way to rein in fuel costs. It’s about creating an alternative option to reduce fuel spend to have the right vehicle for the right application.

The ABC also notes fuel comparison apps like MotorMouth and GasBuddy can help find better deals, while independent chains tend to be cheaper.

While barrel prices reached a historical high of nearly US$150 in 2008 – albeit the Australian dollar was tracking at near parity with the American dollar then – Dhar doesn’t see prices quite reaching that level. He predicts prices won’t reach US$100 a barrel.

It proves little consolation for many transport industries, with additional factors such as the drought leaving many operators feeling the pinch in Australia.

“Fuel costs are a significant factor for all businesses operating in Australia’s freight logistics sector – across all modes of freight transport. Those costs end up feeding into all parts of the supply chain, and ultimately, into consumer prices,” Australian Logistics Council interim chief executive Lachlan Benson recently tells Fairfax.

Genuine Cummins Parts Clearance – at up to 85% OFF RRP will help you save costs.

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has highlighted the need for regulatory common sense on interstate drought logistics at a summit in Canberra. The harmonised rules for transporting fodder across state borders during the drought should be expanded and made permanent, ATA chair Geoff Crouch says. Crouch was speaking after attending the National Drought Summit in Canberra.

“The drought summit was incredibly positive, and I want to thank Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack for bringing us all into one place,” Crouch says.

“To make Australia more drought resilient, governments need to remove the unnecessary barriers that stop the efficient and productive movement of stock and feed over large distances. “Governments have taken an important first step by harmonising the rules for transporting baled commodities like fodder.

“The message I got from the summit is that governments now need to consider further rule changes to help in both this drought and future droughts.”

The national body says governments should:

Harmonise and free up the rules for loading and transporting livestock across state borders

Enable fodder and feed to be transported at higher mass limits in NSW without the need for IAP vehicle tracking

Review the fit to load rules, because drought affected livestock may be in poor condition

Subject to a safety assessment, continue the harmonised transport rules after the drought to increase the productivity of the farm and road freight transport sectors and eliminate delays in responding to future droughts.

Crouch says that ATA member associations such as NatRoad and ALRTA, as well as the NSW Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers’ Association, were doing a great job representing rural transporters through the drought.

Torquepower is proud to support Drought Angels. As a major sponsor to this cause, we encourage our friends to join with us in supporting Drought Angels by contributing whatever you can manage, at this link https://www.droughtangels.org.au/donations/

Kenworth T910 Design Hints? The new Kenworth W990 video has stunning views of Nevada’s Mojave Desert, bridges and a mighty good -looking truck. The story shows an interesting comparison – Aussie and US trucking needs are different .

The big prime mover with a long bonnet. It is an owner driver favourite. However, due to the low GCM rules in North America and the smooth interstates, the size of the truck is more important than the tough hardworking components underneath, like chassis, suspension and driveline.

If both markets prefer a big rugged prime mover design, but have different requirements for the task it needs to handle, then it would be logical to amortise the cost of developing a new cabin and bonnet for such a truck across as many markets as possible. The cabin and bonnet for the US could well end up as the basis for the design of the planned T910.

This is where we come to the W990, released by the Kenworth organisation in Las Vegas this week. The truck looks the business with the big highway cabin with the high sweeping cabin roof going back over sleeper options on 40 inch, 52 inch and 76 inch cabins. Underneath is a different story, it offers the kind of thing the long haul US truckie longs for, a low ride lightweight chassis, a Paccar MX 13 litre engine and the Paccar own-brand AMT.

This is very different from the heavy duty reinforced chassis, 18 speed gearbox, heavy duty diffs and 46,000lb plus rear end, which would be on the specification lists for many Kenworth buyers here in Australia. There’s no reason why an adaptation of the W990 cabin and bonnet couldn’t sit on top of these components, however.

The video gives us a good idea of how the Kenworth designers are thinking and the kind of components at their disposal when creating the W990 for the US. From the video, photos and limited technical data available at the launch, we can only surmise exactly what we will get and what we won’t.

The basic shape of the front section of the cabin look to be one of the items which will carry over, as does the cabin dash layout. The sleeper designs are likely to be different for Australia, our roads are way too rough for these US cabins to survive. With thanks, Diesel News

Torquepower is proud to support Drought Angels – a small charity run by big hearted people who are passionate about our farmers and passionate about keeping them on the land. Like many of our colleagues and friends, we are deeply concerned for the well being of farmers particularly those in our local states of Queensland, NSW. Many are now without sufficient food and water to sustain their animals, and some families struggle to feed themselves. Such is the impact of the worst drought in the region for many decades.

As a major sponsor to this cause, we encourage our staff and customers to join with us in supporting Drought Angels by contributing whatever you can manage, at this link https://www.droughtangels.org.au/donations/ There are simple ways you can help in the supply of everyday essentials for farm and family – for example by a straight forward donation, with Prepaid Visa Cards or by creative fundraising. Remember that every donation of $2 and over is tax deductible.

ANNOUNCEMENT Changes to Workshop Services – July 2018 – With effect from July 1st 2018, Torquepower has taken extraordinary steps to improve our service to customers – by withdrawing our longstanding practice of servicing mobile and in-field equipment.

Last year was our most successful year in our 40 year business history, however, like many other heavy truck servicing facilities, we struggled to maintain a level of service capacity that enabled us to provide the support to our customers that they have enjoyed over the past four decades.

The final straw for us, was that one of our specialist team members was injured on the job six months ago and whilst we continue to support him in his efforts to return to us, another person of his quality has been impossible to find – and we refuse to employ technicians who are not up to the standardexpected of our customers.

As a result, our capacity was stretched to the point that we disappointed and let down customers who had come to rely on our expertise, our flexibility and service capability for so long.

So, the difficult decision was taken to stop offering those services.

But we have not abandoned our customers! In fact, the opposite is the case. We have identified several local Cummins service providers, each of which offers whole of truck servicing as well, and we are working with those workshops to help them in any way we can to meet the needs of those who were our workshop customers. In some cases, we will make available Cummins Special Tooling and technical consultation to further support their efforts.

If you would like us to put you in contact with that select group of workshops, please contact Justin, Andrew or myself and we will be pleased to assist you.

We did consider selling the service portion of our business along with its customer records, but we decided that was not in YOUR best interest. Your service history and trading records will not be shared with anyone without your written approval and all those records remain available to you on request. We will protect the information as if we were still offering the workshop services directly today.

Thank you for your understanding. This has not been an easy decision, but we believe it is the right decision. We stand by the adage that “A job worth doing is worth doing well” and without the right resources, we are no longer able to do that job well. Aside from referring you to alternative service providers, we have set up a new Tool Hire service so that you can hire Cummins special tools if you or your own mechanic needs them, and we will of course support you with the biggest range of competitively priced Cummins parts in Australia.

Thank you also for your support for the service department and we are sorry that we can’t directly continue that service for you.

“I wasn’t always a Snap-on guy. I am a mechanic by trade, but I prefer the clean nails now”, jokes Steve Fell, Snap-on Franchisee, Torquepower customer and para athlete. “Ordinarily, Snap-on trucks must be a Hino or Isuzu but mine is completely different to fit my needs , a one off – a beautifully fitted out Western Star with a walk-through from the cab, powered by a sweet-sounding Cummins ISLe5.”

“I completed an apprenticeship with the NZ Army, and when I had my motorcycle accident in 1982 they probably should have medically discharged me, but asked me stay on until 1986.” Steve jokes – “ I borrowed the motor cycle involved, but when I gave it back, it wasn’t working very well. I turned 19 when I was in hospital. I was expected to be a mechanic but with a smashed pelvis that never repaired, and both legs and an arm that had been broken, I really couldn’t do the work. Cold made the body pain even worse, and I moved to Australia, with the dream of driving coach tours all over the country “

“ At the time I was young and I could handle the pain. I could walk, but not very well. I met my wife when she was the bus tour hostess, we married and have 3 amazing beautiful girls. “Sweet, Dry and Draught”, I call them – two have already graduated from university, one as an Interior Designer who creates kids playgrounds, and the other a Vet Technician. The youngest is a third year Apprentice Chef. My wife and I decided to do something for ourselves; with just Monday to Friday work, and no employees, so we looked at a Snap-on franchise. We put up our house as collateral. Now, we are not far away from owning this truck. “

Whilst Steve is now full time in a wheel chair, he looks extremely fit. “ I only use an electric chair at work as it elevates 10 inches and I can reach the top parts. At home and with sport I use a push chair. I was always a sportsman, I played rugby, cricket and tennis. I had been trying to play social tennis standing up but was in so much pain, I started playing wheelie basketball with the Sporting Wheelies. Wheelchair Tennis is harder on the hands, when you first start your hands are ripped to bits, and I have the callouses to prove it.”

“I competed in the Toronto Games as an Invictus Military para-athlete last year in basketball, tennis and swimming, where I felt pretty special being next to Barack Obama on the basketball court, and Prince Harry at the closing ceremony. I am training three nights each week now ahead of the Invictus Sydney Games in October this year. It’s exhausting and I’m usually asleep by 7.30pm.”

“Challenges at work? Well there are some workshops I can’t get into, but the guys generally hear me pull up. Stock deliveries are Tuesday. Now that I’m in a chair, it takes a lot longer to bring all the stuff in . My neighbour help me tick it off. My customers are diesel specialists like Torquepower, small workshops, panel beaters, dealership and upholsterers in Archerfield through to Mount Gravatt. I’ve been supplying Torquepower with tools since 2001 and I’ve been a Torquepower Cummins parts customer since I bought my new rig in 2017. I also use a Cummins generator to power the air con and everything in the truck. It runs all day, but that’s a Cummins for you. Anything, I need, I just ring Bruce and he has my filters, oils, everything is ready waiting for me. “

I asked Steve, what frames his great attitude? “ I don’t think I’m exceptional, I just do what I do and have fun. Sometimes I get very depressed when major physical things going wrong, I’ve had 9 strokes – 2 really bad ones. I was watching the 2011 World Rugby Cup when I had a stroke in my eyeball. I couldn’t drive after that for 3 months, which I hated. I have a great family though, my Dad counselled me to marry a farm girl, and I did. My wife Colleen is from a dairy farming family and is fabulous. My four beautiful girls keep me going, and I just like to get out there. “

www.torquepower.com.au – Working hard since 1978 to support quiet heroes like Steve Fell.

Torquepower Sales manager Paul Duce, celebrates his fifth anniversary with the family-run Cummins parts hub at Archerfield this month. Despite his youthful looks, Paul has two grown teenagers; 18 and 17 – and over 20 years of Cummins experience, after following his Dad – Noel Duce into the Cummins parts business. Noel was well known to many industry stalwarts, and now lives in retirement in rural north-eastern Tasmania. Paul started at Cummins South Pacific in Brisbane as a Stores person in 1997 and was posted to Mackay as Parts Manager in 2008. He then returned to Brisbane in 2013 to manage engine and new parts sales at Torquepower.

It’s probably fair to say that Paul has accrued more Cummins parts info than the rest of us will ever learn. Why does he love the work ? “ There no better satisfaction than finding a part with a limited amount of information and using it to help that Cummins operator out of a pickle – it’s kind of addictive ! “

“I appreciate that we are truly customer-focused here at Torquepower, and that we go to any lengths to help … also, our core values match. It’s always gratifying when I get out on the road to visit customers and have people recognise me, and they also ask after my dad “

Paul started his working life as an apprentice automotive technician with Denmac Ford, then began a career with Cummins that spanned 16 years. Initially employed as a warehouse storeman, Paul became a trade qualified parts interpreter and progressing to Customer Support Representative at Cummins in Brisbane, Paul was appointed Cummins Parts Manager in Mackay for five years before returning to Brisbane to be with family.

As Torquepower’s Parts and Sales Manager for the past five years, Paul has enjoyed the challenge of small business and managing a small but experienced team. Going out of his way to problem-solve for customers and staff is a real strength. A family man, Paul says,“ family and friends are really important to me.“

Torquepower ex-Army Clement is a warehouse hero. Clement ( Poly) Poland, and his 6 siblings were born in Perth and grew up with an Army Engineer Dad . A mechanical kid, Clement would bush-drive old Falcons and then fix engine parts and panels . He attended Star of the Sea and Colby Catholic Colleges , and left at year 10 to attend TAFE to Fast Track senior subjects so he could join the army.

An Army Reserve member since the year 2000, Clem was a mechanical operator and forklift driver for private companies, and joined the ARA ( Australia Regular Army) as a transport driver . He drove Mercedes Benz, Unimog’s, 1980 Mack 3 axle R series , Mann and Fleetliner trucks, and learnt Bulk Fuel operations and dangerous goods.

Overseas in Iraq in 2006 and 2007, Clement was a protection party driver on the huge Taleel US Army Base for the Tour de Force troop entertainment and morale group . Other duties included driving 13,000 litre diesel fuel tankers distances in Iraq to refuel army units outside the base. Ferrying fuel through “Ambush Alley” kept things interesting, and he enjoyed the camaraderie and mateship.

In the years following, Clement was posted in Sydney, and his first daughter born in 2008. He made a family decision and left the Army in 2009, but stayed in the Reserves till 2012. Since then, Clement gathered a raft of skills driving trucks and supervising warehouses for big West Australian companies, and for Hastings Deering Caterpillar in Mount Isa. A family training organisation was grown many times over with Clement as international business development, and sales and operations management.

Now as Torquepower Warehouse Supervisor, Clement enjoys a smaller family business . “ Workers are well looked after and get the resources they need to do a good job. What I like best about Torquepower is that it is a family-oriented close-knit and family-run group. There is an increased desire to get everything correct for the customer, which means for me parts need to be spot on location-wise . My goal is to make the warehouse flow. A very definitive location saves everybody time and improves productivity.”

“As a family, with three awesome kids; we enjoy fishing, four wheel driving and camping. I still like to keep up the Army fitness with running and gym, and the kids keep me fit ! “

Date of Original manufacture: July 2003
Place of Manufacture: North Carolina, USA
Date of full overhaul by Torquepower: August 2016
Hours since overhaul: Dyno test time only
Rated HP: 220 @ 2600rpm

Key overhaul points:

Fully overhauled for our Managing Director’s personal boat – but higher HP engines were substituted before the 220’s were installed.
Latest genuine Cummins pistons for the marine rating;
New camshafts, followers, cylinder components, crankshafts, bearings, turbos, sea water pumps, valves, valve springs, injectors, oil pumps, water pumps, thermostats, idlers, fuel lift pumps, oil coolers, gaskets and all seals. Cylinder heads were overhauled by Metalock and Fuel Pumps by Prime Fuel Injection.
Turbocharger housings were all ceramic coated by Competition Coatings to prevent internal rust from salt air and reduce radiated heat by up to 60%.
New Barry mounts included with the sale
New oil pump-out pumps included in sale
Engines were dynamically balanced prior to final assembly and testing.
Warranty Coverage: 12 Months or 1500hrs (*conditions apply)

Price: $22,000 each incl. GST – Used Cummins trade in product will be considered.Contact us on 0417747105 or 0732778277 or via email kjr@torquepower.com

https://cumminsengines.com/marine

Reliable, Clean, Quiet – and Powerful.
Cummins has a strong marine heritage dating back to the Company’s start in 1919. More than 90 years later, Cummins continues its legacy of providing reliable, durable diesels to the marine market with a broad range of power 5.9 to 95 liters for commercial, government and recreational applications.

Cummins marine engines have been engineered to meet the durability and performance needs of marine applications and seawater cooling options and controls seamlessly integrated to ensure the propulsion for your vessel meets your needs.